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Society and Law

To live on Morgance is to be the property of the government and the Imperium in turn. Through government-controlled mass media, regulation of communication, mass surveillance, propaganda and physical might, the government has shaped the population of Morgance into blind obedience. Its citizens may only move in areas made accessible to them by identification cards, they may only choose from a limited number of activities both in terms of profession and personal pastime activities. Whether in literature, music, art or even casual conversation, the government regulates what may and may not be expressed. Those who do not conform to the strict local laws are ruthlessly punished until they are either made to conform or disappear.

While there was some initial resistance to the new form of government, the people of Morgance have eventually accommodated and complied with its laws after years of intense propaganda. The local society and culture has become as ruthless and cynical as the laws themselves, as the citizens have learned to hate weakness and aid in its uprooting and destruction. Criminals learn to fear their neighbours as much as the law enforcers themselves and in the rare event of crimes going unnoticed or unpunished, angry mobs will usually take justice into their own hands. While this culture is arguably the pinnacle of the Imperial Creed and philosophy, most offworlders find it quite horrific.

A central school of thought on Morgance is the idea that the weak must serve and obey the strong, even at the cost of their lives or perhaps especially at the cost of their own lives, in order for the whole to benefit and survive. As might be expected, this has led to a tremendous contrast in terms of economy, where a constant struggle for survival among the lower classes is considered a benefit for the community as it helps weed out the weaker and less talented citizens. Over half of the global population might thus be considered low class citizens, who live in almost constant fear of their lives, working ceaselessly in order to avoid starvation or homelessness. A small fraction of the population are enormously rich, squabbling away their riches while secure in their faith that it is their right to live lives of luxury simply by virtue of their own talent or heritage.

The importance of heritage on Morgance has led to a situation where certain ethnic groups are seen as worth less than others, although the situation has not yet developed to the point where ethnic discrimination is a matter of global policy. Indeed, the principle that every man is judged by the merit of his own actions and talent is seen in the fact that even people of low ethnic status may rise to high positions in government, if they have the skills to get there.